Narcotics Detection K9 Joins Puyallup Police Force

PUYALLUP, WA - Sniffing out drugs in Puyallup got a lot easier for local police last week when the Puyallup Police Department brought on its newest recruit: Otto, the 18-month-old German Shepherd.

Resurrecting the agency's K9 narcotics detection program, Otto and his handler, Officer Andrew Bond, bring more than 240 hours of training to the department, according to PPD Capt. Ryan Portmann.

Trained alongside Bond by the Washington State Department of Corrections, Otto is capable of detecting cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ecstasy, Portmann said.

"We're really excited to bring the program back," Portmann told Patch on Tuesday.

Puyallup police have reportedly been without a K9 trained specifically for narcotics detection since K9 Timber retired a few years back.

Increasing the total number of police dogs in Puyallup to three, Otto now joins tracking pros Marshal and Maverick.

"With the addition of K9 Otto, we believe the community will see an increase in the amount of narcotics seized by officers, ultimately resulting in less narcotics at the street level," Portmann said in a statement. "Please join us in welcoming K9 Otto to Puyallup PD. We have no doubt you will see his name appearing regularly in our blotter."

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